A significant database error in the UK’s immigration system has caused turmoil for over 76,000 individuals, intertwining their biometric and biographical data and leaving many unable to prove their right to work, rent housing, or access state-funded medical treatment.
Operated by the UK Home Office, the Person Centric Data Platform (PCDP) contains records for 177 million immigrants, including identity documents and biometric information. However, internal documents reveal instances of ‘merged identities’, resulting in incorrect listings of names, photographs, or immigration status, leading to processing delays, border queues, and faulty identity cards.
